Angelonia plant named ‘Balangpikim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Angelonia  plant named ‘Balangpikim’ characterized by its pink and white bi-colored flowers, medium-sized flowers, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Angelonia angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Balangpikim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balangpikim’.

The new cultivar was developed by the inventor in a controlled breeding program during May 2003 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Angelonia cultivars with unique flower colors, continuous flowering, and freely branching, upright, and moderately vigorous growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection designated BFP-895, not patented, characterized by its large dark purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, medium vigor, and upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection designated BFP-873, not patented, characterized by its large dark purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, medium vigor, and tall upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination on September 2003 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2003 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balangpikim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant:

-   -   1. Pink and white bi-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium-sized flowers; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and flower size and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color, flower size, and growth habit.

Of the Angelonia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar to ‘Balangpikim’ is the Angelonia cultivar ‘Balangroki’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balangroki’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describe the colors of ‘Balangpikim’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balangpikim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘Balangpikim’.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balangpikim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Apr. 13, 2005. The readings were taken between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 75° F. to 85° F. (24° C. to 29° C.) during the day and approximately 62° F. to 70° F. (17° C. to 21° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at approximately 6,000 to 10,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia angustifolia, cultivar     Balangpikim. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female (seed) parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia             breeding selection designated BFP-895, not patented.         -   Male (pollen) parent.—Proprietary Angelonia angustifolia             breeding selection BFP-873, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 9 days.         -   Time to develop roots.—Approximately 21 to 28 days.         -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Habit of growth.—Moderately vigorous, upright.         -   Form.—Upright.         -   Size.—Height (from soil level to top of plant plane):             Approximately 25.3 cm. Diameter (area of spread):             Approximately 38.0 cm.         -   Main branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 4. Shape:             Square in cross section. Strength: Strong. Length from soil             level to base of raceme: Approximately 31.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 3.1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.             Internode length at center of branch: Approximately 2.7 cm.         -   Foliage.—Quantity of leave per main branch:             Approximately 10. Type: Simple. Fragrance: None.             Arrangement: Opposite. Orientation to stem: Slight right             angle to stem. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Broadly dentate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Sessile. Length of leaf at center of             branch: Approximately 6.1 cm. Width of leaf at center of             branch: Approximately 9.8 mm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color of             upper surface of young and mature foliage: Darker than 137A             with venation of 144D. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: 137C with venation of 144D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balangpikim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 13 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom on the plant.—Approximately             7 to 10 days.         -   Inflorescence type/description.—Terminal racemes. Length:             Approximately 8.3 cm. Width: Approximately 3.9 cm. Number             per plant: Approximately 6 open racemes per plant at 11             weeks. Number of fully open flowers per raceme at any one             time. Approximately 10. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type/fragrance.—Bilabiate. No fragrance.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: 3 to 4 days from first color to fully             open. Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 5.8 mm. Color of upper surface: 2D             with N78C at base. Color of lower surface: 2D with overlay             of N78C and spots of N77A.         -   Flowering size/aspect.—Length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Width:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 9.4 mm. Aspect:             Facing outward.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 per flower, fused at base forming a             throat, an upper lip with two petals, and a lower lip with             three petals-one central and one lateral on each side. Petal             shape of upper lip and lower lip petals: Obvate.         -   Upper lip.—Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin: Entire. Length             of petals from throat: Approximately 6.6 mm. Width of petal:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Color of upper and lower surfaces:             Lighter than 73A. Texture of upper surface of petal:             Glabrous with moderate glandular pubescence at base and             along margin. Texture of lower surface petal: Glabrous.         -   Lower lip, lateral petals.—Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:             Entire. Length of petals from throat: Approximately 8.6 mm.             Width of each petal: Approximately 8.1 mm. Color of upper             surface: Lighter than 73A with varying amounts of N155B at             apex. Color of lower surface: Lighter than 73A with N155B at             center and apex. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous with             some pubescent glandular hairs at base and along margin.             Texture of lower surface: Pubescent with very short             glandular hairs.         -   Lower lip, central petal.—Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:             Entire. Length of petal from palate: Approximately 7.6 mm.             Width of petal: Approximately 8.3 mm. Color of upper             surface: N155B in center of petal and 73B along margin.             Color of lower surface: N155B. Texture of upper surface:             Sparsely glandular pubescent with more pubescence along             margin. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous. Gland color:             13B, translucent.         -   Throat.—Length: Approximately 6.4 mm. Width: Approximately             5.4 mm. Texture of inner surface: Mostly glabrous with some             glands at base. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous. Color of             inner and outer surfaces: N155B with spots of 70B. Palate             color: N155B. Palate texture: Densely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: 13B, translucent. Teeth color: 155B.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Good. Length: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 0.9 mm. Angle to stem: At a slight             right angle. Texture: Very sparsely glandular pubescent.             Color: 144D with overlay of 183D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Five-pointed star, cupped. Width:             Approximately 5.0 mm.         -   Sepal.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Margin:             Entire. Base: Fused. Apex: Acuminate. Length: Approximately             3.8 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper or             inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface:             Glandular-pubescent. Color (both upper and lower surfaces):             Closest to 137B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 4.5 mm. Filament color:             N155B. Anther shape: Biolobed. Anther length: Approximately             0.7 mm. Anther color: 70C. Amount of pollen: Abundant.             Pollen color: 92D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma length:             Approximately 0.7 mm. Stigma color: 145D. Style length:             Approximately 2.3 mm. Style color: N155B. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 1.1 mm. Ovary texture: Puberulent. Ovary             color: 144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Angelonia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘Balangpikim’, substantially as herein shown and described. 